Weekly Giveaway: Living Your Dreams Event (2 Tickets!)

If you feel like you’re going nowhere fast, stop struggling! Get ready for a motivating and inspirational evening in the city. Hear from speakers who will help you feel GOOD and aligned with who you really are! Meet other men and women in your same situation and get a dose of community and connection. During our fun evening, you’ll hear from experts and work on exercises that connect you with your life purpose. Access your true self, real happiness, and step into your power!

DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 12 6-9pm

To Win:

You must be a SUBSCRIBER to HealthyStyleNY.com (it’s easy and free– just check the upper right hand portion of this page!) Then just simply leave a comment below or on our Facebook page so that we know you want to win! By week’s end we will pick a lucky winner and email you!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS MONIQUE FOR BEING THE WINNER. STAY TUNED FOR ANOTHER GREAT GIVEAWAY NEXT WEDNESDAY!

Over the span of the evening you will meet with a life coach, career coach and healer to:

Learn how to tap into your intuition and what to do with it.

Get clearer about your life purpose and meaning in your life.

Start creating a gratifying career and life path for yourself.

Feel energized and inspired about your next steps.

Speakers include:

Erin Koch is a life coach who integrates her experience as an artist and Buddhist into her sessions with clients. She incorporates mindfulness and creativity as tools for helping clients recognize resonant life choices that lead to inspired action.

Kristina Leonardi is the founder and director of The Women’s Mosaic, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing education, inspiration and motivation for women to express their full power and potential in the world.

Tori Quisling has been a reader, healer and teacher for more than 20 years. Trained at the Berkeley Psychic Institute and in New Orleans, Tori Quisling has been a featured expert for both the NY Daily News and the Long Island Society for Paranormal Research. Her extraordinary readings and training programs will teach, guide and empower you on your spiritual path.

Dining Room Redesign :: Brightening History with Big Color

I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to put up this post and with the turn of season, it’s finally here. Call me a school girl (and a history buff) at heart, but every fall, I get a bit nostalgic about my alma mater, University of Virginia, the historic town where it’s located, Charlottesville, and it’s notable founder and architect, Thomas Jefferson. So when I spotted these images in a recent issue of Elle Decor showcasing the newly refinished dining room of TJ’s primary residence, Monticello…well, I was excited to say the least.
.

The vivid color shift from a cool, Wedgewood-blue dating back to 1936 to an enlivened marigold yellow gives this colonial dining room warmth, energy and a rich Southern spirit. Makes you want to sit right down at the table and enjoy a long, lovely meal, doesn’t it? After a bit of paint studying, historians concluded that the dining room was painted a chrome yellow shade around 1815, just a few years after the bright color had been created in France. It seems only fitting, Jefferson being as passionate and worldly as he was, to return to a stunning shade of yellow.

Weekly Giveaway: The Peak 20 Workout (10 Sessions!)

For many New Yorkers there simply isn’t enough time during the day to even think about squeezing in a workout or a gym class. But fortunately, we found a power packed workout guaranteed to show results. And, it’s ONLY 20 minutes!

Dubbed “Top Rising Star in Personal Training” by the National Fitness Hall of Fame and Museum, New York City’s very own Natasha Linton developed Peak 20 Workout to get busy people fit. And today’s giveaway will knock you socks (and the pounds) off! Today, one lucky reader will win 10 passes to Peak 20 Workout.

About Peak 20 Workout: Peak 20 Workout is a 20 minute total body conditioning program designed for strength and conditioning, core conditioning, cardio strength and fat loss all while creating a great looking physique. Peak 20 Workout was created to meet the needs of those with very little time in the day and also for those who want a unique change to their workouts.

To Win: You must be a SUBSCRIBER to HealthyStyleNY.com (it’s easy and free– just check the upper right hand portion of this page!) Then just simply leave a comment below or on our Facebook page so that we know you want to win! By week’s end we will pick a lucky winner and email you!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER. CONGRATS ANA FOR WINNING THE PEAK 20 SESSIONS! STAY TUNED FOR ANOTHER GREAT GIVEAWAY NEXT WEEK!

Location: 27th street / 2nd avenue. Class takes place outdoors on a nice day, or indoors if it rains or gets way too hot.

Harvest in the Square features chefs from the hottest and most popular restaurants in the Union Square District as they prepare signature dishes using fresh farm produce from our very own Union Square Greenmarket. Microbrews and wines from New York State and across the globe are carefully paired with each dish, so bring your appetite for a night of unforgettable food, fun, music and more under the fall foliage in Union Square Park! All proceeds from the benefit go to the beautification of Union Square Park.

12 Signs He’s The Real Deal

Why hasn’t he called? Should you have played hard to get? Is he going to make good husband material. Yes, they are questions we have all asked over and over again, but is there anyway to figure out if Mr. Right Now is the real deal. Here are 12 signs that could help you get to the bottom of your man’s true intentions!

BLAH BLAH

1. He understands. The two of you may not always agree, but he definitely tries to see your side of things. And even if he can’t relate to what you’re upset about, he still tries to calm you down and makes you feel better about the situation and yourself.

2. He tells you. Oh, those three special words, I love you. They are the words some men have major trouble saying. Hearing him say “I love you,” and knowing he means every word, is a great sign that he’s in this for the long haul.

3. He shows you. Everyone knows that men have trouble expressing their feelings with words. This is why they often feel more comfortable using other forms of expression, like taking you out for dinner when he thinks you need a break from cooking or understanding that you might need some time to yourself. While you may like to hear those sweet whispers of affection from him, sometimes actions speak louder than words.

4. He listens to you. Is he genuinely interested in what you’re saying when you talk to him? Does he give you his undivided attention during your conversations, instead of having the television blaring in the background? Showing that he cares enough to listen to what you have to say is an important sign of how committed he is to your relationship.

5. He’s happy around you. Smiles? Laughter? Excited to spend time with you? Glad just to be with you? If he can’t get enough of you, this is an unmistakable sign that he’s really attracted and in love.

6. He compliments you.He notices when you change something about your appearance. He appreciates when you take the time to look great. When he looks you up and down admiringly with a little smile and tells you how beautiful you are, you know you matter.

7.He takes care of you.Is he your guardian angel? Does he baby you when you’re sick and nurse you back to health? If the answer is ‘yes’, then it’s a pretty sure bet you’ve got a good thing going.

8.His friends and family like you.You can gauge how a man feels about you from the way his circle of friends and family treat you. If you are held in high regard, and they have embraced you like one of their own, it’s a fact he’s been telling them how happy he is to have you in his life.

9.He appreciates you. Telling you how proud he is of your achievements or praising you to his family and friends is a wonderful signal. It’s a sign he is in deep appreciation of who you are to him.

10.He asks for your opinion.He asks for your advice, considers it, and may put it to good use. When important decisions are at stake concerning him, he doesn’t just go ahead and decide on his own what he thinks is right.

11.He lets you win (sometimes). Let’s say the two of you are fighting over the remote—you want to watch Family Guy reruns while he wants to watch a soccer game. If he happily sits through an episode of Stewie’s shenanigans (but makes you promise to watch the Brazilian match in an hour), you’ve got a keeper. No one wants a pushover, but he’s gotta let you win occasionally.

12.He makes you feel special. Does he make you feel like the most important person in the world? Is he always trying to keep the romance alive? Bringing you flowers or breakfast in bed are great signs that he cares. If he’s always going out of his way to make you feel exceptional hold on tight—this guy is the One.

Fall Trends: 5 Must Haves for 2010

Fall is truly one of the best seasons… for clothes! It’s the season of freedom and spontaneity where you can feel a little more open to play. Top off an outfit with a big wooly sweater, stock up on a multitude of scarves, and pull your favorite pair of boots out of the closet because keeping it fresh, fun and spur-of-the-moment is what fall is all about.

A few trends to watch out for in these upcoming crisp and cool months are:

1. Tall Boots

Boots are a staple in any New Yorker’s closet because they never ever go out of style. What’s different this season though is the height of the boots with some reaching up all the way up to the thigh. Tall boots are great because they work on any woman and they can make your legs look miles longer than they actually are (bonus!). If thigh high boots aren’t your thing, try a pair to the knee for some added sexiness. There is nothing quite like a good pair of boots to take you from jeans to dressy in no time!

2. Ponchos & Capes

This seems to be the season of comfort because ponchos and capes are the new “it” items for outerwear. Talk about easy and breezy – these oversized cover-ups are made to go over just about any kind of outfit. Find one in black that’s a bit more tailored for office wear and bring out a funky printed poncho for a night out with the girls. If you’re a little sick of your peacoat from last season, give one of these a try for a look that is sure to turn some heads!

3. Velvet

Velvet has been revived for this season! Whether it’s a black sleek jacket or a dark and romantic dress, this fabulous fabric is here to make you feel sexy again. Every designer from DKNY to Alexander Wang is putting this sensual textile to use in everything from dresses to jackets to pants and handbags. Not only is it something we haven’t seen for a while, its versatility and playfulness will make you want to add something velvet to your wardrobe everyday simply due to the fact that it feels amazing!

4. Camel

Still feeling like you don’t want to delve into the really dark stuff quite yet? Not to worry, all things nude and neutral are all the rage this season! For a change from white, designers everywhere are giving all things camel a try. Get out your classic trench from spring or try out a tan colored leather jacket for something new and exciting. From sweaters to tees to even fancy party dresses, it’s the color to try this season for a night out on the town!

5. Big Pants

Okay, what’s more comfy than a pair of pants you can actually move around in? For this season (although we still adore our skinnies and jeggings) the wider the leg, the better! For all you denim lovers, feel free to dig out your bell bottoms from a few years back or even try this look at work with a wide leg pair of sophisticated dress pants. If you’re not completely sold on this idea, try them with a blazer or fitted sweater to help you ease into this style. Remember that trends supposed to be fun, so don’t be afraid to make this look your own.

Let’s face it. None of us like wrinkles. We all are looking to make time goes backwards (or at least stand still) when it comes to our skin aging. And one of the hottest beauty trends is incorporating Oxygen into serums and creams to do just that. Yep, the good ol stuff we breath! From spas dolling out oxygen facials to the airy molecules being incorporated into beauty products, O2 is becoming quite popular! And this week, we’re jumping on the bandwagon and giving one lucky ready two new skincare products from Dermacyte, which includes the Oxygen Concentrate and the NEW Oxygenating Eye Complex.

Dermacyte Oxygen Concentrate

Dermacyte Oxygen Concentrate is a unique and ultra-soothing formula that helps restore a youthful glow to your skin. Your complexion appears instantly brighter and energized after it is applied. Apply morning and night onto clean skin before any other products. Think of Dermacyte Oxygen Concentrate as an oxygen bar for your skin! (Price: $30 for 3.2ml & $84 for 10 ml)

Dermacyte Oxygenating Eye Complex

Dermacyte Oxygenating Eye Complex is a smooth, delicate treatment to refresh, hydrate and restore the appearance of youth to your eye contour area. It is designed toenhance the skin’s hydration, elasticity and smoothness while protecting it against environmental stress.Dermacyte Oxygenating Eye Complex is a gentle marriage of modern technology and nourishing emollients extracted from avocado essence, oat kernel, sunflower oil, the calming High Ash, a tree indigenous to European forests rich in antioxidants, Vitamin C and seeds from the Pacific Northwest Meadowfoam plant among other nurturing ingredients.

It provides a lightweight solution with its patented technology, a powerful oxygen-carrier developed to infuse oxygen for a fresher appearance and overall improved complexion. It immediately imparts a cool, moisturizing effect while also reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. These effects along with skin brightening and anti-irritating benefits deliver a lighter and healthier feel to your skin. (Price: $120, 15 ml)

About the Company: Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ & SIX: OXBT) of Durham, NC, is developing cosmetic and medical products that efficiently deliver oxygen to tissues in the body. The company has developed a proprietary therapeutic oxygen carrier and liquid ventilation product that is being formulated for both intravenous and topical delivery. The Company introduced its first cosmetic product, Dermacyte® Oxygen Concentrate in 2010. In addition, the company is focused on PFC-based oxygen carriers for use in traumatic brain injury, decompression sickness, personal care, and topical wound healing. More information is available at www.oxybiomed.com or www.buydermacyte.com.

To enter out little giveaway, all that you have to do is make sure you have signed up & are a regular subscriber to our newsletter. This week, we’re looking to share the love, so the subscriber who forwards this email along most (yes, we can see that!) will win the skin care! By week’s end we will pick a subscriber’s name at random, post it to the site, and send you your bottles of skincare!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! CONGRATS JENNIFER MCDOUGLAS! STAY TUNED FOR ANOTHER GREAT GIVEAWAY NEXT WED!

The Who, What, When, Where, How and Why of Weight Loss

One of the most common reasons why many of us struggle with weight loss and weight maintenance is because we fail to look at the: who, what, when, where, how and why we actually gained the weight in the first place. Once we’re able to ask ourselves these questions and come up with some insightful answers, we can understand how to finally create a weight loss plan that actually works. The first place to start is with the who of weight loss.

1. Who triggers you to overeat?
It can be a boss who triggers us to grab foods to calm or relax us after a stressful day at the office. It can be a friend or partner who encourages us to overeat because they want a “food buddy.” It can be someone who shows their love for you through the food they’ve prepared and we eat to avoid hurting their feelings.

2. What types of foods you are eating?
Are you struggling with your food choices, eating too much junk food, takeout, prepared or fast food? Are the foods you’re choosing high in fat and sugar? Are your portions too big and you’re finding yourself “economy sizing”, “super sizing” or “value-mealing?” Are you choosing foods that don’t satisfy or fill you adequately? Are you taking in too many liquid calories?

3. When are you overeating?
For many people, weight issues stem from over eating the same foods at the same time. For example, many parents find they over eat their children’s snack foods between 3-4pm. Others find that late night snacking while watching TV is the place where they’re taking in too much.

4. Where are you doing most of your overeating?
You may be overeating at the kitchen counter while preparing food and snacks. Others find that the living room couch after a long day is where the damage is done and still others can blame weight gain on the Saturday night breadbasket at their favorite restaurant.

5. How are you over eating?
You can be eating socially, mindlessly, binge eating or eating emotionally. With social eating you’re not hungry, but you’re simply eating to be a part of the group or the experience. You may be concerned about being judged, criticized or questioned if you don’t eat what everyone else is eating so you use the opportunity to eat foods you’d normally limit or avoid. With mindless eating, you take in extra food as you’re passing it to others, when you grab something as you see it on the counter or someone’s desk, eating while preparing food or eating while reading, watching TV or doing anything else that takes your attention away from concentrating on what you’re eating. Poor food choices or eating to improve our feelings or mood are the most common reasons for binge eating. For example, a diet high in sugar often encourages binge eating behavior because the sugar provides a quick energy surge followed by an energy crash. That crash encourages a high sugar binge in order to regain that energy so quickly gained and lost. With an emotional eating binge, we overeat to calm, numb, soothe or relax. It’s used as a means to self soothe and self medicate. It’s a technique we use to deal with our stress, fears, anger, frustration or hurt and we eat to encourage a boost of serotonin, one of the body’s “feel good” chemicals.

6. Why are you overeating?
Questioning yourself after a binge is one of the best times to ask that question. With compassion and without judgment, simply ask yourself “what do I really need?” or “what was I really looking for?” Rarely is it food and more likely it’s compassion, security, sleep, friendship, a fulfilling project, satisfying relationship, enriching and meaningful job, more confidence or simply a call for a better way to handle your stress.

The more we understand the: who, what, when, where, how and why of weight loss, the better we can create a plan that works for us…not against us. While it may take some effort to come up with the answers, every answer you find brings you one step closer to gradual yet lasting weight loss.

Debi Silber, MS, RD, WHC The Mojo Coach® is a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s degree in Nutrition Science. She’s a Certified Personal Trainer, Whole Health Coach, speaker and the author of The Lifestyle Fitness Program: A Six Part Plan So Every Mom Can Look, Feel and Live Her Best (recommended by Parenting Magazine and Jack Canfield, Co-Author of the Bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series and The Success Principles). Debi’s branded The Mojo Coach® because after working with hundreds of clients for nearly 20 years, she’s discovered the six things we ALL need to look, feel, live our best and “get our mojo back.” Sign up for a free report, a full year of weekly tips and a subscription to Debi’s newsletter Mojo Moments. All free at www.TheMojoCoach.com .
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

City Escape: Brazil Yoga Retreat

Dreaming of feeling lighter, brighter and more alive, even sexier? Join international yoga teacher and bodyworker Kimberly Johnson for a week of yoga, adventure and exotic, healthy cuisine on the tropical Brazilian island of Ilha Grande. The week-long retreat (scheduled from Sunday to Saturday for minimum time off from your busy life) includes daily yoga classes at sunrise and sunset, ocean-view accommodations at one of two private waterfront eco-resorts, all meals and healthy snacks, unforgettable daily excursions around the island like a trek to Lopes Mendes beach (voted one of the most beautiful in the world by Vogue), general serenity and transfers to and from Rio de Janeiro.

A certified yoga instructor, Kimberly Johnson has taught yoga all over the world (New York City, San Diego, Chicago, Boulder, Thailand, Malaysia and Brazil) for the last eleven years and since 2006 has brought her broad depth of knowledge to Ilha Grande, where she hosts yoga immersion retreats several times yearly. “The island is the perfect environment to stay away from our usual routines and establish a new one that supports a vision of wholeness and health,” she says, whether it be through active hikes into the untouched rainforest, swimming through crisp cleansing waterfalls, or savoring the delicious fresh fare of local fruits (bananas, mangos, pineapple, açai, papaya), organic vegetables, and fresh fish caught in nearby crystal-clear waters. The sunrise and sunset yoga classes (each one different, balanced, individualized and two hours long) don’t hurt either.

A longtime practitioner of Viniyoga, Iyengar and Ashtanga, Kimberly teaches alignment-based vinyasa yoga with intelligent and creative sequencing. She customizes her classes to suit the needs of each group and its participants, so her retreats are suitable and challenging for yoga practitioners of all levels, beginner to advanced.

Come see what Kimberly’s past guests are raving about! Deepen your practice – and brighten up your life – with her, this October in Brazil.

Retreat Dates and Enrollment

October 3-9, 2010: “Straight to the Heart”, Posada Naturalia, Ilha Grande, BrazilEnrollment: US $1395per person/ US $1595 single occupancy

October 31-November 6, 2010:#1 Yoga Retreat on the Island for Professional WomenGota do Mar Retiro, Ilha Grande, BrazilEnrollment: US $2,100 per person/ US $2,400 single occupancy

This Weekend: Race For the Cure In Central Park

This Sunday, September 12th, Central Park will be overflowing with pink. The twentieth annual Susan G. Komen Greater NYC Race For the Cure is on, and women of all ages will come together to walk for breast cancer. I will be one of them.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is an organization dedicated to putting an end to breast cancer, continuing to support those with the disease, and honoring the memory of those who have lost their battle. Runners and walkers will take the starting line for the 5k event at 9 a.m. It is guaranteed to be a memorable and worthwhile day.

This year I am lacing up my sneakers and joining the Clear Vision Optical Team to support the cause! If you want to join me, form your own team, walk as an individual, or simply support the cause, it’s not too late! Head to the Greater NYC Website for all the information or to make a donation.

Another great way to support the cause (and sport a hot pair of sunglasses) is to purchase BCBGMAXAZRIA’s cause-related limited edition Dream sunglasses (at BCBG.com or in select stores). In doing so you will help raise funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. These stylish shades have a suggested retail price of $99.99 and 25% of the sales (approximately $25) from each pair of sunglasses sold from September 2010 through August 2011 will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. They’ve also guaranteed minimum donation of $100,000! Go BCBG & Clear Vision Optical!

No matter how you choose, I hope you’ll join me in supporting such a worthwhile cause. For more information on Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and other races throughout the nation head to their website.